Non-Fiction Books

Artwork by Steve Jenkins
Image from www.barnesandnoble.com

What Do You Do With
a Tail Like This? 

by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Jenkins, Steve and Robin Page. 2003. WHAT DO YOU DO WITH A TAIL LIKE THIS? New York: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0618256288

PLOT SUMMARY

The husband and wife team of Steve Jenkins and Robin Page brings young readers a great book about animals and their very functional body parts. After a short introduction, the book is divided into six sections consisting of 2-double-page spreads. Each section begins with a question to the reader asking them what they would do with a nose, ears, tail, eyes, feet, or mouth like the ones pictured. The next page lets the reader know exactly what the animals pictured do with features like that! What Do You Do With a Tail Like This? includes thirty different animals, some familiar, others not so much, that demonstrate the variety and complexity of the world’s animal kingdom.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Jenkins and Page successfully bring a unique twist to what is already an abundant subject matter in children’s non-fiction books - animals. Their focus on animal body parts, each beautifully illustrated by Jenkins, offers an informative and attractive look at animal adaptations and senses. Readers of all ages will enjoy learning that skunks use their tail to warn potential predators, and that snakes can swallow eggs that are larger than their heads. Others will be introduced to exotic creatures such as the star-nosed mole and the blue-footed booby.

Each animal is accurately represented in bright, layered cut-paper collages, with Jenkins’ incredible attention to detail and texture. All of the illustrations are set against a white background, and the corresponding text, which answers the preceding question, is set close to the animals, often type-set in rhythmic, flowing patterns. The book’s text makes it easy for young readers to follow because it is organized in a repetitive pattern. It asks a question about a body part, then immediately provides the answer in the following pages. The writing is simple enough for children to understand, and the illustrated glossary at the back of the book gives more details and information about the animals that were mentioned, including where in the world they are found and how exactly they use their unique feature. What Do You Do With A Tail Like This? is recommended for ages 4-8, and is also available in Spanish.

REVIEW EXCERPTS and AWARDS

“-this array of wide eyes and open mouths will definitely have viewers responding with wide eyes and open mouths of their own.” (Kirkus Starred Review, Jan. 2003)

“This is a striking, thoughtfully created book with intriguing facts made more memorable through dynamic art.” (Booklist Starred Review, Feb. 2003)

“This wonderfully creative and well designed book will be fun for early readers who enjoy animals.” (Library Media Connection Starred Review, Feb. 2004)

“This is a great book for sharing one-on-one or with a group.” (School Library Journal, Starred Review, Mar. 2003)

• Caldecott Honor Book (2004)
• ALSC Notable Children's Books (2004)
• Charlotte Zolotow Commendation (2004)
• The Children's Literature Choice List, Children's Literature (2004)
• NCTE Children's Literature Assembly / Notable Children's Books in the Language Arts (2004)

CONNECTIONS

Preview the book with this Book Trailer: What Do You Do With A Tail Like This?

Use this book in a unit study on animal adaptations, and how different body parts (including human parts) are used for different purposes.

Choose one or two animals featured in each body part in the book to compare and contrast using a Venn diagram or other graphic organizer.

On 30 flash cards, draw each featured body part and a short description (how the animal uses it). Then have the students choose two or three cards each and make up a “new” animal that has these features.  Have them explain, either written or orally, what this made-up animal does and where it lives, based on their adaptations.

For older kids, here are some children's websites to learn more about animals and adaptations:

• PBS Kids: Wild Kratts. 
• National Geographic Kids: Animals and Pets. 
• Scholastic: Study Jams. 

Other fun books for children about animal adaptations and body parts 

--The Mixed-Up Chameleon by Eric Carle
--If I Had a Tail by Karen Clemens Warrick
--Omnibeasts: Animal Poems and Paintings by Douglas Florian
--Who Has These Feet? By Laura Hulbert
--What's Looking at You, Kid? By J. Patrick Lewis

Other animal books for children by Robin Page and Steve Jenkins

--How to Clean a Hippopotamus: A Look at Unusual Animal Partnerships

--Move! Board book

--How Many Ways Can You Catch a Fly?

--Sisters and Brothers: Sibling Relationships in the Animal World

Other animal books for children by Steve Jenkins

--Animals in Flight

--Slap, Squeak & Scatter

--Actual Size

--What Do You Do When Something Wants To Eat You?

Visit the illustrator’s website.